```

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 183 (Thursday, September 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 55220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7909]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

Proposed Collection of the ETA 205, Preliminary Estimates of 
Average Employer Contribution Rates; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on a proposed continuance for a 
collection of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of the ETA 205, Preliminary 
Estimates of Average Employer Contribution Rates. A copy of the 
proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by 
contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this 
notice or by accessing: http://www.doleta.gov/Performance/guidance/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before November 20, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Subri Raman, Office of Workforce Security, Employment and 
Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-4231, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone number (202) 
693-3058; fax:(202) 693-3229 (these are not toll-free numbers) or e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Background: The ETA 205 reports preliminary information on the 
taxation efforts in states relative to taxable and total wages and 
allows for comparison among states. The information is used for 
projecting unemployment insurance tax revenues for the Federal budget 
process as well as for actuarial analyses of the Unemployment Trust 
Fund. The data is published in several forms and is often requested by 
data users. In addition, this report helps to fulfill two statutory 
requirements. Section 3302(d)(7) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act 
(FUTA) requires the Secretary of Labor to determine and notify ``the 
Secretary of the Treasury before June 1 of each year, on the basis of a 
report furnished by such state to the Secretary of Labor before May 1 
of such year'' of certain percentages computed according to sections 
3302(c)(2)(B) and (C) from the average tax rates for states with 
outstanding Title XII advances, which are then used to calculate the 
loss of FUTA offset credit for these states. In addition, the tax 
schedules are used to assure that states are in compliance with 
provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (Pub. L. 97-
248), section 281.
    II. Review Focus: The Department of Labor is particularly 
interested in comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarify of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.
    III. Current Actions:
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Preliminary Estimates of Average Employer Contribution 
Rates.
    OMB Number: 1205-0228.
    Agency Number: ETA.
    Affected Public: State Governments.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: ETA 205.
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Total Responses: 53.
    Average Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 14.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.00.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: September 12, 2006.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
[FR Doc. 06-7909 Filed 9-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P
```